What does the irony in these excerpts from “In Another Country” by Ernest Hemingway convey?

The war is ruthless and took away the things most important to the identity and happiness of both men.

Explanation:

Your question isn't complete as you didn't provide the excerpt where the question came from. I searched online and got the excerpt which has been added in the comments section.

Irony refers to the expression of one's meaning through the use of a language

or words which signifies the opposite. The irony in the excerpts convey that the war is ruthless and took away the things most important to the identity and happiness of both men.

the effect of the ming leaders banning ships with more than two masts was that there was no further construction of ships masts, because there was a surplus. ming emperors disallowed foreign exploration

after world war ii, the united states and the soviet union were the major economic, military, and political powers. the world was bilateral multipolar bipolar unilateral

after world war ii, the united states and the soviet union were the major economic, military, and political powers. the world was bipolar.  

the great leap forward, mao zedong's plan to increase china's agricultural and industrial production, was an overwhelming success. true false

the great leap forward, mao zedong's plan to increase china's agricultural and industrial production, was an overwhelming success. true.

explanation: